Jon Kragel
Lead Pastor
jkragel@missiongrovechurch.com

Simply putโ€ฆ I LOVE JESUS!

God has changed my life, and I plan on spending the rest of my time here on earth helping others connect to Him. My passion in ministry is for preaching, vision casting, and developing leaders. I am so humbled and grateful to be married to my best friend, Samantha, and together we have three crazy and creative children: Jackson, Carter, and Chloe. Iโ€™ve had the privilege to serve in ministry for 20 years, and my favorite part is seeing peopleโ€™s lives change through connecting with Jesus. I graduated from Cedarville University, earned a Masters of Divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and my Doctorate of Ministry from Phoenix Seminary. I love family time, sports, movies, and trips to California. Our family is truly excited to see how God is going to work in and through Mission Grove Church to reach the Phoenix Valley for Christ, and our prayer is that youโ€™ll join our movement to make a difference in our community.

Chris DeWald
Executive Pastor
cdewald@missiongrovechurch.com

My story is one of God’s unexpected direction and faithful provision.

I began college on a baseball scholarship, expecting the sport to be my future. Instead, during my freshman year, God made it clear He was calling me into vocational ministry, specifically youth ministry. That calling led me to Bryan College in Tennessee, where I prepared for ministry and met my wife, Holly. We’ve now been married for nearly 30 years.
My first ministry position took Holly and me to Colorado before God led us across the country to New Hampshire, where Holly grew up. During that time, our faith was tested when Holly was involved in a near-fatal car accident. The next two years were filled with therapy, uncertainty, and challenges that stretched our marriage and our faith. Yet God proved faithful every step of the way, bringing healing beyond what doctors expected, strengthening our relationship, and later blessing us with our daughter, Lora.
Although we thought Colorado would be our permanent home, God had different plans and led us to Arizona just 11 months after moving back. The change has been a tremendous blessing, especially for Holly, as the climate has been much better for her health. Shortly after settling in Arizona, we welcomed our son, Braeden.
Outside of ministry, I enjoy playing softball and cheering for my hometown teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. I also have a deep passion for helping marriages, strengthening families, and seeing people grow in their relationship with Christ. I’m naturally outgoingโ€”my family jokes that I could make friends with a wallโ€”and I genuinely enjoy building meaningful relationships with people.
Looking back, I can clearly see God’s faithfulness through every season of my life. My desire is to help others experience the same hope, healing, and purpose that He has so graciously given me.

Curt Weber
Associate Pastor
cweber@missiongrovechurch.com

From Building Homes to Building Lives

Jill and I have been married since 1992 and are blessed with three wonderful children: Ashley, Harrison, and Katie. We owned and operated a residential construction company for twenty years. However, in 2012, I began my calling into vocational ministry. Together, weโ€™ve had the blessing of serving in various areas of ministry, including childrenโ€™s, discipleship, evangelism, family, and hospitality. Additionally, Iโ€™ve served in menโ€™s, marriage, parenting, and group ministries, serving both as a lay leader and a pastor. I received a Masters of Divinity in Biblical Communication from Phoenix Seminary. God has called me to shepherd and teach His people to know Him and to follow Him. I love helping the saints grow into Christlikeness and equipping them to do the work of the ministry. I am profoundly grateful to be part of what the Lord is doing at Mission Grove and beyond. I eagerly anticipate witnessing His transformative grace in and through our church community for His glory.

Brandon Jackson
Worship Pastor
bjackson@missiongrovechurch.com

Living a Life of Worship

My name is Brandon and I love the Lord and have experienced His grace in my life in a way that has forever changed me. I have my struggles and I get tired, but I have tasted a glimpse of the Lordโ€™s goodness โ€“ and thereโ€™s no turning back from that. I studied worship and music at Arizona Christian University for my undergrad because I became excited about Jesus and music when it was time for me to โ€œleave the nestโ€. What I didnโ€™t know was how much more deeply I would learn about the tangible fruit of Godโ€™s character in my own personal life through both study and experience. I learned how to live a life with God, which is a life of worship. Theyโ€™re one in the same, and I would love for the fruit of my life with Jesus to be very present in every aspect of the work I do at Mission Grove. My goal is to show people that there is a real life to be had with our Savior, not just words on a page or a service on our calendar. Please come talk to me!! While I do love good music, walking through life with Godโ€™s church is where I find my love for where God has me. Music is one of Godโ€™s greatest gifts to allow us to express what we couldnโ€™t with normal words. So letโ€™s learn more about God together and respond in a meaningful way that recognizes the weight of His glory!
I started in ministry in 2024, got married to my wonderful wife, Ally, in 2026, and am loving where the Lord is taking me.

Wendi McKay
Greeter, Hospitality & Grove Gals Coordinator
wmckay@missiongrovechurch.com

From Saving Lives to Shepherding Hearts

My husband, Greg, and I have been married for over 20 years, and not a day goes by that we arenโ€™t blessed, humbled, and honored to get to raise our four active and creative children โ€“ Grace, Ally, Justin, and Rachel.They keep us busy, laughing, and loving. I have had the pleasure of serving in various roles within womenโ€™s ministry over the past seven year, and most recently, was a volunteer CarePortal coordinator that helped facilitate churches meeting childrenโ€™s and family needs through the AZ foster care system. Prior to that, I had a 15 year career as a Phoenix Fire Firefighter and Paramedic. I love to get to know people well, serve others, and see people and lives transformed by their understanding of who they are through the love of Jesus.
We love our church family! Come discover a place that truly loves and supports people, serves the community, and exists to know, make known, and glorify Jesus โ€“ because He first loved us. Welcome to Mission Grove Church!

Holly Holmes
Children’s Director
hholmes@missiongrovechurch.com

Called to Care

โ€œRaising Our Kids In Christ Togetherโ€. I feel like our Mission Grove Kids tagline speaks well to my heart. I truly believe it takes a village to raise these short people. My husband, Lance, and I have been married since 2010, and we have the absolute joy of raising two really cool kiddos; Corinne and Elijah, who are also learning what it means to serve The Lord. I couldnโ€™t be prouder of them. It is a blast to watch them grow and learn as individuals.
My goal is to raise not only my children with the truth of Jesus but to be a light to all the children God places in my path. I know that He is the strongest foundation they will ever need because He is the strongest foundation I have always needed. I worked as a Project Manager in commercial construction for almost sixteen years. I couldnโ€™t see myself having any other career, but when God was nudging me to Homeschool my children and then to lead the childrenโ€™s ministry of Grove Kids, I now canโ€™t see myself doing anything else. My cup truly overflows. My prayer for our families is that they may โ€œgrasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God, because He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen!โ€  (Ephesians 3)

Edwina Starke
Administrative & Creative Director
estarke@missiongrovechurch.com

Unexpected Detour

Originally, when setting out to pursue the dream of becoming an architect, I found myself on an unexpected path when I was introduced to the Lord by a college sweetheart.This encounter led to a marriage blessed with three wonderful children.
Sadly our paths diverged, but three years later, I found love and companionship anew when I met Mike, whom I married in 2007. Together, we continue to navigate lifeโ€™s joys and challenges, grounded in our shared faith and commitment to the Lord. 
On this unexpected detour, I discovered that Godโ€™s hand was guiding me all along, using my design skills in ways I never anticipated. Now, as Administrative and Creative Director at Mission Grove Church, I find myself utilizing those same creative talents to serve a higher purpose. From managing day-to-day operations to infusing our communication with visually engaging artwork, I am humbled by the opportunity to contribute to our community in ways that transcend the blueprint of my original dreams. 

Cade Guymon
Student Ministry Intern
cguymon@missiongrovechurch.com

Ckicsia Navarrete
Administrative Assistant, Music Coordinator
cnavarrete@missiongrovechurch.com